Water-soluble germanium nanoparticles cause necrotic cell death and the damage can be attenuated by blocking the transduction of necrotic signaling pathway

► We examined the cytotoxicty of water-soluble germanium nanoparticles (wsGeNPs). ► The wsGeNP causes necrotic cell death and the damage can be rescued by necrostatin-1. ► Treating cells with wsGeNP increases cellular calcium and ROS level but reduce MMP. ► The damaging effect of wsGeNP can be blocked by calcium, ROS or MMP inhibitor.